Film Heritage Foundation on Saturday introduced a movie pageant to have fun late cinema legend Dilip Kumar’s one centesimal delivery anniversary. The pageant, titled ‘Dilip Kumar Hero Of Heroes’, will likely be held on December 10 and 11, the not-for-profit organisation, based by filmmaker and archivist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, mentioned in a press launch. Also learn: Anupam Kher’s mother Dulari Kher mistook brother-in-law for Dilip Kumar: ‘Main kyu ghunghat rakhu’
During the movie gala, organised in partnership with main multiplex chain PVR Cinemas, Dilip Kumar’s critically-acclaimed films, together with Aan (1952), Devdas (1955), Ram Aur Shyam (1967) and Shakti (1982), will likely be screened in over 30 cinema halls and 20 cities throughout the nation.
Dungarpur mentioned the pageant is an unimaginable alternative to deliver again “one of the greatest actors of Indian cinema on the big screen”. Dilip Kumar died on the age of 98 in July 2021.
“He truly is the ‘Hero of Heroes’ as even today he is an actor that the biggest stars look up to. Film Heritage Foundation could think of no better way to celebrate this milestone than a festival of his films back in theatres. Even though some of these films were released nearly seventy years ago, the power of Dilip Kumar’s performances, his craft as a method actor and his charisma make him ageless,” he added.
Dungarpur, who earlier curated a movie pageant to mark Amitabh Bachchan’s eightieth birthday, mentioned it made him unhappy that a lot of Dilip Kumar’s nice movies survived solely in low-resolution codecs that would not be projected on the large display. “I cobbled together these films with great difficulty with many people asking me why some of their favourite Dilip Kumar films were not included… I hope this will be a wake-up call to filmmakers and producers to realise that time is running out and that they should look into preserving their films before it is too late,” he mentioned.
Veteran actor Saira Banu mentioned she is elated that the Film Heritage Foundation is celebrating Dilip Sahab’s one centesimal birthday with the pageant. “They could not have chosen a more apt title to commemorate India’s greatest actor — ‘Dilip Kumar Hero Of Heroes’. He was my favourite hero from the time I was 12 years old when I first saw him in Aan in technicolor. It will be a joy to watch him back on the big screen, larger than life, like he has been in my life,” she added.
Amitabh Bachchan urged all movie lovers and up to date actors to not miss the unimaginable alternative of watching Kumar’s movies on the large display. His movies will likely be a grasp class in appearing, the veteran actor added.
“Even today I am learning every time I watch his films. Dilip Kumar was and is my idol. I am still to meet an actor who could match his faultless performance, his flawless diction and the intelligence and commitment he brought to his craft. His every spoken word was poetry and when he appeared on the screen, everything else was a blur. I had the privilege of sharing the screen with him just once and the experience was one I will cherish,” he added.
Kamal Haasan mentioned Dilip Kumar set a world bar for Indian actors to observe. “Erudite, eloquent and excellent in his chosen field. Cinema can make people believe that those who have departed are still alive. In that context to me Dilip Kumar ji is one of the world’s best actors alive. It’s an incredible feat by the Film Heritage Foundation and I’m grateful to them for keeping my heritage alive,” he mentioned.